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Letter to Emma Smith, 9 November 1839

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Sangamon Co., IL, to , , Hancock Co., IL, 9 Nov. 1839; handwriting of JS; one page; CHL. Includes address and docket.
One leaf, measuring 12½ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm), with thirty-eight ruled lines. The document was trifolded in letter style and sealed. Later, the document was refolded for filing. Remnants from the adhesive wafer are on the verso of the letter. The signature of JS was clipped, and a dark stain exists along a crease next to the missing signature.
presumably kept the letter until it was given to or inherited by her son , who in turn donated it to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now Community of Christ). In 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the letter from the Community of Christ, and it is now held at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    [Joseph Smith III], “Letters of Joseph Smith, the Martyr,” Saints’ Herald, 1 Dec. 1879, 356–357.

    Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.

Historical Introduction

On the morning of 9 November 1839, JS wrote a letter to from , Illinois, while on his journey to . He and the rest of the delegation seeking redress had departed , Illinois, eleven days earlier, and they stopped in Springfield to allow , who was still recovering from malaria, to further recuperate. The stopover apparently provided JS with time to write home. He explained in the letter that the traveling party was behind schedule because of Rigdon’s poor health and that they planned to leave him in Springfield to recover fully. JS also expressed concern for the welfare of his family, encouraged Emma to care for their children, and requested a reply from her.
The letter was carried from to by a “Mr Law,” who delivered it to sometime before 6 December, when she wrote a letter back to JS and confirmed she had received this letter.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter of Introduction from Sidney Rigdon, 9 Nov. 1839.

  2. [2]

    Rigdon and Robert D. Foster, a member of the traveling party who was also a doctor, continued with the group as far as Columbus, Ohio, which suggests that the members of the delegation changed their minds about Rigdon’s fitness to travel. (Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 19 Nov. 1839, 68; Historical Introduction to Letter of Introduction from James Adams, 9 Nov. 1839; Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839.)

  3. [3]

    “Mr Law” was probably William Law or his brother Wilson. Likely accompanied by his brother, William had recently moved to Commerce. (Letter from Emma Smith, 6 Dec. 1839; Cook, “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter,” 49.)

    Cook, Lyndon W. “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter.” BYU Studies 22 (Winter 1982): 47–72.

Page [2]

 
Mrs
Hancock
Co
Ill— [p. [2]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Emma Smith, 9 November 1839
ID #
492
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:55–57
Handwriting on This Page
  • Joseph Smith Jr.

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